The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-04-22
CHAPTER V.
DREAMS AND FOOLISHNESS,

When John Mel left Bessie on the veranda
at the approach of Frank Muller he had
taken his gun, and. having whistled to the
| pointer dog Pontiac, mounted bis shooting
pony and started out in quest Of partridges.
On the warm slopes of the hills round Wax.
kerstroom a large species of partridge is very
abundant, especially in the patches of rcd
grass IN which they are sometimes clothed
1t IL merry sound to hear these partrlges
calling from all directions Just after day.
break, and one to make the heart of every
true sportsman rejoice exceedingly. On leav.
ing the house John proceeded UP uhe side Of
tho hill behind it-his pony picking Its way
carefully bee;seen the stones. and the dog
Pontiac ranging about 200 or 800 yards Off, for
in this sort Of country it is necessary to have
dog with wide range. Presently John
saw him stop under minosa thorn and sud-
denly stiffen out as If he had been petriied,
and made the best of his way toward him.
Pontiac stood still for few seconds, and then
slowly and deliberately veered his head
round, rs though it worked on hinge, to see
ii his master were coming. John knew Ills
ways. Three times would that remarkable
old dog look round thus, and if the gun had
not then arrived he would to a certainty run
in and flush the birds. This was a rule that
he never broke, for his patience had a fixed
limit. On this occasion, however, John
arrived before it was reached, and, jumping
off his pony, cooked his gun and marched
slowly up, full Of happy expectation. On
drew the dog, his eye cold and fixed, saliva
dropping from his mouth, and his head and
face, on which was frozen an extraordinary
expression Of instructive ferocity, outstretched
to their utmost limit.
He was right under the mimosa thorn now
and up to his belly in warm, red grass
Where could the birds BET Whirr! and
great feathered shell seemed to have burst at
his very feet. What q covey! twelve brace
II there was bird, and they had all been
lying beak to beak in a space no bigger than
a cartwheel. Up went Johns gun and off
too, little sooner than 1t should have done.
Missed him clean! Now then for the left
barrel" Same result. There, We will draw
a veil over the profanity that ensued. A
minute later and it was all over, and John
and Pontiac were regarding each other with
and disgust
ut was all you, you BRUTE" said John to
Pontiac. Il thought you were going to run
in, and you hurried me-"
"Ugh!" said Pontiac to John, or, at least,
~ AooAAO' As O6h' you OiHl SHOl.
What is the good of pointing for you? It's
enough to make dog sick"
The covey-or rather the collection of old
birds, for this kind of partridge sometimes
packs just before the breeding season-had
all about the place, and it was not
ong before Pontiac found some of them; and |
his time John got one bird-and beautiful |
sreat partridge he was, too, with yellow legs |
and missed another Again Pontiac pointed, |
md brace rose. Bang! down goes one;
lang! with the other barrel. Caught him, by |
love, just as he topped the stone Hullo!
'ontac is still on the point. Slip in two more
artridges. Oh, leash this time! bangl
'ang! and down came brace of them-two
race of partridge without moving yard
Life has joys for all men, but it has, l verify
'elieve, no joy to compare to the joy Of the
Moderate shot and earnest sportsman when
10 has just killed half dozen driven bar
ridges without miss, or ten rocketinc
neasahts with eleven cartridges, or, better
I'LL, a couple of woodcock right and left.